What's up: Ex-ASU guard Stevin 'Hedake' Smith

by Scott Bordow - May. 5, 2010 04:20 PMThe Arizona Republic

Former Arizona State basketball player Stevin "Hedake" Smith, who was the central figure in the point-shaving scandal that marred the Sun Devils' basketball program during the 1993-94 season, is 38, has three daughters (14,11, 5) and works with youth in the Dallas area. He also coaches two AAU teams.

Question: How long have you been back in Dallas?

Answer: "Going on three years, since I stopped playing."

Q: What prompted you to start working with kids?

A: "I specialize in the ones that people don't like to deal with. I like those kinds. Look back at my life . . . If I had somebody to come into our locker room and had a story to tell me about point shaving and gambling, how not to do it, these are the consequences, I know damn well I wouldn't have made that mistake."

Q: What do you tell kids?

A: "Do the right thing. Get a good education. Set goals in your life. Go to college, get your degree, get a good job, be a good father. There are other ways to be successful in life than basketball."

Q: How long did it take you to get over what you did?

A: "It's like you'll never be over it. But I'm at peace with it because I paid my dues. I don't owe. I made my mistake. A lot of people think they know me but they really don't know me. I'm a very cool guy. But all they see is that's the point-shaving guy from Arizona State."

Q: You're hoping to write a book. Why?

A: "Look what I've been through. How I was raised single-handed by a woman (his mom, Eunice), all the things I went through, how the point shaving went down . . . then not only talk about that part but how I go from Hedake Smith to reporting to federal prison and how I survived in there. Then, when most people say you're through, I play professionally in Europe for 13 years. I went through three passports. Then I can tell about my life after basketball. It's a hell of a story."